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United States envoy to Syria Tom Barrack on Tuesday drew sharp criticism in Lebanon after describing journalists’ behavior as “animalistic” during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Beirut.
As reporters shouted questions following the U.S. delegation’s meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Barrack stepped to the podium in the crowded hall and said: “We’re going to have a different set of rules... please be quiet for a moment.”
“The moment this starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we’re gone. So, you want to know what’s happening? Act civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is the problem with what’s happening in the region,” he added.
His remarks triggered swift condemnation from Lebanese officials and media organizations.
The Lebanese presidency in a statement on X expressed regret at “remarks made inadvertently from its podium by one of its guests,” while stressing its appreciation for journalists and media representatives. The statement also underscored “absolute respect for human dignity in general” and reaffirmed “appreciation for accredited journalists in particular.”
Information Minister Paul Morcos issued a separate statement voicing regret over the envoy’s words, calling them remarks “by a member of the foreign delegation towards media representatives at the presidential palace.”
The Syndicate of Lebanese Press Editors denounced Barrack’s conduct as “absolutely unacceptable and highly reprehensible.”
“The dignity of journalists is not cheap, and no envoy, no matter how high his rank, can exceed the limits,” the syndicate said. It urged Barrack to issue “a public apology to the media,” warning that failure to do so “may push the syndicate to call for a boycott of the visits and meetings of the American envoy as a first step.”
In a strongly worded statement, the group added that Lebanese media had once again been subjected to behavior “beyond the pale of decency and diplomacy,” which it called especially regrettable coming from “an envoy of a major power performing a diplomatic role.”
Ibrahim Musawi, a lawmaker from the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and head of parliament’s media committee, described the envoy’s words as “a blatant insult” and urged the government to “summon the U.S. ambassador and reprimand her.”
Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Türkiye, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to meet with Aoun and other senior officials.
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